Garcia, et al v. Allstate Insurance

Filing 25

ORDER Directing Clerk to File a Copy of Plaintiffs' Opposition/Response (Doc. 12 in 1:12-cv-1762) in this Case and Title the Document "Motion for Relief"; ORDER that the Motion is Referred to the Magistrate Judge to Conduct Further Proceedings; and ORDER Directing Clerk to Mail a Copy of the Findings and Recommendations (Doc. 16 ) to Plaintiffs, signed by District Judge Anthony W. Ishii on 12/12/2012. (Jessen, A)

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IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
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EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA
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Plaintiffs,
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v.
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ALLSTATE INSURANCE,
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Defendant.
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____________________________________)
EFRAIN GARCIA and OFELIA
GARCIA,

1:12-CV-1762 AWI SKO
ORDER VACATING
HEARING, ORDER ON
MOTION TO DISMISS, AND
ORDER REFERRING OTHER
MATTER TO THE
MAGISTRATE JUDGE
(Doc. No. 10)

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Currently pending before the Court is Defendant’s motion to dismiss. Hearing on this

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matter is set for December 17, 2012. The Court has reviewed the submissions of the parties and

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determined that oral argument is unnecessary. See Local Rule 230(h). The Court will vacate the

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December 17, 2012, hearing and instead issue this order.

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BACKGROUND
On April 17, 2012, Defendant removed a lawsuit that had been filed by Plaintiffs in the

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Tulare County Superior Court. That case was assigned the following case number in this Court:

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1:12-cv-609 AWI SKO (hereinafter “Garcia I”). The complaint in that case alleged a single

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cause of action for malicious prosecution. See Garcia I Doc. No. 1. Plaintiffs alleged that

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Defendant had wrongfully instituted a subrogation lawsuit against them in October 2004. See id.

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Defendant dismissed the subrogation lawsuit in November 2011. See id. Plaintiffs alleged that

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the subrogation lawsuit was brought without probable cause. See id. Plaintiffs alleged that

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DMV records clearly showed that Plaintiffs were not the owner of the motor vehicle that was

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involved in the subject accident, and that Defendant continued to prosecute the case even after

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Plaintiffs repeatedly asserted that they did not own the automobile and had urged Defendant to

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dismiss. See id. Plaintiffs sought punitive damages and about $300,000 in compensatory

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damages. See id.

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On June 21, 2012, Defendant filed an Anti-SLAPP motion in Garcia I. See id. at Doc.
No. 13. Plaintiffs did not file an opposition.
On September 18, 2012, the Magistrate Judge issued a Findings and Recommendation

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(“F&R”) in Garcia I that recommended granting the Anti-SLAPP motion, but without prejudice

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to amending the complaint. See id. at Doc. No. 16. Plaintiffs did not object to the F&R.

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On October 17, 2012, the Court adopted the F&R, and granted Plaintiffs 21 days to file an
amended complaint. See id. at Doc. No. 18.
On October 29, 2012, Defendant removed the instant case from the Tulare County

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Superior Court. This case was assigned a case number 1:12-cv-1762 AWI SKO (hereinafter

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“Garcia II”). The parties in Garcia I and Garcia II are identical. The Complaint in Garcia II is

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on a pre-printed state court form. See Garcia II Doc. No. 1. Under Section 10 of the preprinted

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complaint, the box for “general negligence” is checked. See id. However, the title of the first

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(and only) cause of action is identified as “Intentional Tort.” See id. The first cause of action

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alleges, “Defendant Allstate Insurance Company filed a lawsuit against [Plaintiffs] with full

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knowledge that the Plaintiffs were not liable for the damages caused to their insured . . ., who

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was involved in an auto accident on 01/04/2003 on Manning Avenue at Hill Avenue.” Id.

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Plaintiffs also seek punitive damages. See id.

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On November 5, 2012, Defendant filed a motion to dismiss in Garcia II. See id. at Doc.
No. 10. The basis of the motion is that Garcia II is duplicative of Garcia I. See id.
On November 21, 2012, the Court closed Garcia I because Plaintiffs did not file an

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amended complaint. See Garcia I Docket Doc. No. 20. Judgment in Garcia I was also entered

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on November 21. See id. at Doc. No. 21.
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On December 3, 2012, Defendant’s counsel moved for attorney’s fees. See id. at Doc.
No. 22. Hearing on the motion for attorney’s fees is currently set for January 22, 2013.

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On December 6, 2012, Plaintiffs filed their opposition to the motion to dismiss in Garcia

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II. See Garcia II Doc. No. 12. On December 10, 2012, Defendant filed its reply. See id. at Doc.

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No. 13.

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I.

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Defendant’s Argument

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Defendant argues that this case should be dismissed as duplicative of Garcia I.

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Motion To Dismiss

Defendant argues that the Complaints in Garcia I and Garcia II are based on the same issue and

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essentially seek the same relief. Further, Garcia II appears to be an attempt to avoid an

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unfavorable ruling because the Anti-SLAPP motion in Garcia I was unopposed and ultimately

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granted. Defendant requests dismissal with prejudice.

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Plaintiffs’ Opposition

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Plaintiffs do not address whether Garcia II is duplicative of Garcia I.

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Legal Standard

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“Plaintiffs generally have no right to maintain two separate actions involving the same

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subject matter at the same time in the same court and against the same defendant.” Adams v.

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California Dep’t of Health Servs., 487 F.3d 684, 688 (9th Cir. 2006). In determining whether a

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second lawsuit is duplicative, courts examine “whether the causes of action and relief sought, as

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well as the parties or privies to the action, are the same.” Id. at 689. Whether causes of action

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are the same depends on the transaction test – “[w]hether the events are part of the same

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transaction or series depends on whether they are related to the same set of acts and whether they

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could conveniently be tried together.” Id. When a lawsuit is improperly duplicative of a

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previously filed case, the court has the discretion to dismiss the later filed case with or without

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prejudice, to stay or enjoin the later filed case, or to consolidate the two cases. Id. at 692.

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Discussion

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A review of the Complaints in Garcia I and Garcia II indicates that the two lawsuits are

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impermissibly duplicative. The parties are identical in both cases. The Plaintiffs seek punitive
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damages and just over $300,000 in compensatory damages from Defendant in both cases.

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Finally, the causes of action are the same. It is true that Garcia I alleged only a malicious

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prosecution claim, and the precise cause of action in Garcia II is unclear. Nevertheless, the two

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cases appear to infringe on the same rights of Plaintiffs, it appears that substantially the same

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evidence would be used in the both cases, it appears that rights established in one case would

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impair or destroy rights in the other, and the two cases share the same nucleus of facts. This is

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because both cases are based on Defendant wrongfully maintaining a subrogation lawsuit against

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Plaintiffs despite knowing/being told that Plaintiffs did not own the car that injured Defendant’s

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insured. Cf. Garcia I Docket Doc. No. 1 with Garcia II Docket Doc. No. 1. Thus, Garcia I and

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Garcia II are duplicative. See Adams, 487 F.3d at 988-92.
Given the considerable work that has occurred already in Garcia I, and the fact that there

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is a pending motion in that case, the Court sees no utility in maintaining this case. The Court

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will dismiss and close Garcia II.

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II.

Further Proceedings in Garcia I
Plaintiffs’ opposition is essentially a request to amend their complaint. Plaintiffs explain

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that, on June 6, 2012, they received a letter from their attorney concerning a settlement offer by

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Defendant. See Opposition Ex. A. Plaintiffs rejected the settlement offer. On June 28, 2012,

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Plaintiffs attorney sent Plaintiffs a letter regarding Plaintiffs’ desire to seek another attorney, and

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included a substitution of attorney form with the letter. See Opposition Ex. B.1 Plaintiffs signed

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the substitution form on July 6, 2012, and their counsel signed the form on July 9, 2012. See

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Opposition Ex. C. Plaintiffs state that they relied on their attorney to file the substitution form

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and assumed that the substitution had the effect of dismissing Garcia I. As a result, they filed

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Garcia II in state court. However, it was not until November 2012, that Plaintiffs learned that

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Garcia I was still proceeding and was about to be dismissed. Plaintiffs state that they contacted

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their attorney, but the attorney said that he had not been receiving notices regarding the

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Plaintiffs’ attorney also indicated that he was having significant difficulty reaching and communicating
with Plaintiffs. See Opposition Exs. A, B.

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proceedings in Garcia I and that he had not filed the substitution of attorney form because the

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federal court required a different form. Plaintiffs also state that they did not know that Garcia I

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had been removed to federal court, and that after they signed the substitution of counsel form,

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their attorney did not contact them. Plaintiffs state that, due to their counsel’s failure to notify

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them, they were unable to prevent the dismissal of Garcia I.

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Rules 59 and 60 permit a court to alter, amend, or grant relief from a judgment. See Fed.

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Rs. Civ. Pro. 59(e), 60(b); School Dist. No. 1J v. ACand S, Inc., 5 F.3d 1255, 1262-63 (9th Cir.

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1993). The Ninth Circuit has held that district courts may raise a Rule 60(b) motion sua sponte.

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See Kingvision Pay-Per-View v. Lake Alice Bar, 168 F.3d 347, 351-52 (9th Cir. 1999); see

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also Judgson Atkinson Candies, Inc. v. Latini-Hohberger Dhimantec, 529 F.3d 317, 385-86 (7th

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Cir. 2008) (and cases cited therein). Other courts have recognized that district courts may raise a

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Rule 59(e) motion sua sponte. See Burnham v. Amoco Container Co., 738 F.2d 1230, 1232

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(11th Cir. 1984); Daniels v. Milwaukee Bd. of Sch. Dirs., 2012 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 164154, *1

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(E.D Wis. Nov. 16, 2012); Bryant v. New Jersey DOT, 998 F.Supp. 438, 442 (D. N.J. 1998).

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One ground for granting relief from a judgment is when a party is abandoned by his attorney.

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See, e.g., Moore v. United States, 262 Fed. Appx. 828, 829 (9th Cir. 2008); Community Dental

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Servs. v. Tani, 282 F.3d 1164, 1170 (9th Cir. 2002); Crutcher v. Aetna Life Ins. Co., 746 F.2d

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1076, 1083 (5th Cir. 1984); Slama v. City of Madera, 2011 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93378 (E.D. Cal.

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Aug. 21, 2011).

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In this case, Plaintiffs’ opposition suggests that they were abandoned by their attorney

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during Garcia I. Plaintiffs’ opposition indicates that they were never properly informed about

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the consequences of filing a substitution of attorney, that the substitution was not filed, or that

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Garcia I had been removed. The opposition also suggests that Plaintiffs did not know about

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either the Anti-SLAPP motion or the 21 day deadline for filing an amended complaint. Given

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the representations made by Plaintiffs, further proceedings are warranted and possible relief may

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be justified. The Court will order that Plaintiffs’ opposition in this case be filed in Garcia I, and

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will refer that matter to the Magistrate Judge to determine whether Rule 59 and /or Rule 60 relief

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is appropriate based on attorney abandonment.
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ORDER

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Accordingly, IT IS HEREBY ORDERED that:

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The December 17, 2012, hearing date is VACATED;

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2.

Defendant’s motion to dismiss is GRANTED;

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3.

This case is DISMISSED without prejudice, but without leave to amend;

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4.

The Clerk shall CLOSE this case;

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5.

In Case No. 1:12-cv-609 AWI SKO, the Clerk shall file a copy of Plaintiffs’

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opposition/response (Doc. No. 12 in 1:12-cv-1762 AWI SKO) and entitle that document

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“motion for relief”;

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The newly filed “motion for relief” in Case No. 1:12-cv-609 AWI SKO is REFERRED to

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Magistrate Judge Oberto to conduct further proceedings consistent with this order and to

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issue a Findings and Recommendation on whether some relief from the judgment in Case

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No. 1:12-cv-609 AWI SKO is warranted;

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The Clerk shall file a copy of this order in Case No. 1:12-cv-609 AWI SKO; and

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The Clerk shall mail a copy of the September 18, 2012 Findings and Recommendation

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(Doc. No. 16 in 1:12-cv-609 AWI SKO) to Plaintiffs.
IT IS SO ORDERED.

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Dated:
0m8i78

December 12, 2012
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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